Santa Cruz de La Palma is famous for its wooden balconies, cobbled streets and ancient buildings. It is within walking distance of the holiday resort Los Cancajos.

Passengers on board the many cruise ships which dock in the port of Santa Cruz can easily stroll into the centre of the town which just across the road from the harbour entrance.

On the boulevard of Santa Cruz there are colourful antique balconies.

Balconies in all shapes and size.Boulevard, Santa Cruz

This mock-up of Columbus's ship The Santa Maria near the northern end of the boulevard in Santa Cruz houses the maritime museum.

Some of the Santa Cruz's narrow streets are traffic-free. Weekday afternoons (between 13.00 and 17.00), Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday the shops are closed and the streets are quiet. Many of the old shops have wooden doors and shutters so window-shopping is limited at these times.

Wooden balconies in Calle O'Daly, Santa Cruz.The are made of tea (pron. Tay-a) which is the central, resin rich, center of the Canary Pine.

During festivals the Town Hall of Santa Cruz is decorated with richly embroidered cloth.

A quick look in some of the old buildings can be rewarded with murals such as these in Santa Cruz.

The carnival parade is over and people make their way home throught the cobbled streets adorned with carnival lamps - against a blue sky.Note the red embroidered cloths hanging out of the windows as decoration.

A group of old house fronts (many renovated) just north of the Maritime Museum in Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz,at the northern edge of the boulevard there is a place where waves can splash over the wall when there is a strong wind is from the east.If there are empty parking places and the road is wet ..... you have been warned.!

Statue of three musicians in Santa Cruz.

Peppers hanging out to dry in Santa Cruz de La Palma. The dried peppers are crushed to for the basis of mojo rojo, a red sauce used with meat and the local papas arugadas.

A traditional tiled roof in Santa Cruz. The old half-round tiles were hand made decades ago, using local clay and were often formed on the upper leg of the potter. They were then stacked and covered with brushwood and baked dry.

A shop in Santa Cruz selling religious artifacts.

The clock tower above the main square in Santa Cruz

A chemist in the main street in Santa Cruz has been kept in its antique style.

A magnificent decorated ceiling in a chemist in the main street in Santa Cruz.